Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People

9 Pages

2345 Words

Dale Carnegie's book How to Win Friends and Influence People gives methods of instruction and examples as to how to triumph in the social world. It includes chapters on how to handle people, how to make people like you, how to win people to your way of thinking, and how to be a leader. The book begins with a preface of suggestions on how to get the most of the book. These include reviewing it periodically and taking the suggestions with an open mind and sincerity.

The first chapter exposes the reader to the technique of how to handle people successfully. It emphasizes that in order to understand people one must regard the situation from their point of view. Most people have reasons for deciding what they do. Those who commit crimes and rob stores do not view themselves as bad people. Gangsters such as Al Capone regarded themselves as unappreciated and unrecognized public benefactors, not as enemies of the state. People do not condemn themselves, so why should one condemn others? Lesson one explains to the reader that one should never criticize, complain, or condemn other people. Principle two suggests that you give people your sincere and honest appreciation. A person should not think of his accomplishments or successes, yet compliment others on theirs. The most important thing one can give another is his genuine appreciation. "I consider my ability to arouse enthusiasm among people the greatest asset I possess, and the way to develop the best that is in a person is by appreciation and encouragement.” -Charles Schwab You can threaten people by force or harsh words, but the only way to get others to do what you wish is to give them what they want. What do they want? Appreciation. Principle three in the fundamental techniques of handling people deals with how to arouse in the other person an eager want. It is easy to tell people your needs, but no one wants to hear them.